Media Contact: Janalle Goosby
Sixteen Public Health Departments Achieve Accreditation or Reaccreditation Status by the Public Health Accreditation Board
Accredited health departments demonstrate their commitment to accountability, transparency, and quality improvement.
August 29, 2023 – Alexandria, VA – The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) today announced the names of sixteen public health departments that have achieved accreditation or reaccreditation status, after completion of a systematic review process against national standards. After demonstrating their commitment to excellence and a dedication to continuous improvement, these health departments have achieved accreditation for the next five years.
Health departments are the core of public health and greatly improve the health of the communities they serve. Accreditation supports continuous development and improvement by strengthening infrastructure, increasing health equity and emergency preparedness, improving quality and performance improvement, and strengthening infrastructure and workforce development.
“This accreditation is more than just a feather in our cap, it’s a promise to uphold a high standard of service and reflects our unwavering dedication to excellence in public health. Our resilient staff, along with our community partners, played a vital role in this milestone,” said Adrienne Sturrup, Director of Austin Public Health. “With this accreditation, we’re even more equipped to address emerging health challenges and promote equity in our community. Our commitment to serving you remains strong!”
“Our ongoing focus to maintain accreditation status helped tremendously during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Officer at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. “As we emerge from the pandemic response, this achievement will guide our health department’s future, strengthen essential service areas and infrastructure, and build public trust. Reaccreditation supports the County’s vision to make data-driven decisions and advance health equity for all people we serve.”
“It feels surreal to now be an accredited health department. We’re very excited about it,” said Jason McBride, Health Commissioner at Gailon City Health Department, “Thank you to everyone who helped us get to this point.”
PHAB administers the national accreditation program and works to advance and transform the public health practice of governmental public health departments in the United States and abroad through quality and performance improvement.
“Accreditation demonstrates a health department’s commitment to excellence and their unwavering dedication to improving the health of our communities,” said PHAB President and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. “It not only recognizes the hard work and perseverance of our public health professionals but ensures that health departments have the needed infrastructure, resources, and systems needed to function efficiently and deliver high quality public health services.”
National initial accreditation was awarded August 21, 2023 to:
- Galion City Health Department, OH
National reaccreditation was awarded August 21, 2023 to:
- Austin Public Health, TX
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH), CA
- County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, CA
- Hamilton County Public Health, OH
- Lake Cumberland District Health Department, KY
- Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department, NE
- Olmsted County Public Health Services, MN
- Panhandle Public Health District, NE
- Pima County Health Department, AZ
- Public Health – Idaho North Central District, ID
- Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, CO
- Washington County Public Health Division, OR
- Wicomico County Health Department, MD
- Wood County Health District, OH
- Yamhill County Public Health, OR
